Roof structures



June 14, 1955 H. F. ROSS ROOF STRUCTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 20, 1950 3nventor, fin er/72055 (Ittomeg June 14, 1955 oss 2,710,584

ROOF STRUCTURES Filed March 20, 1950 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 3nnentor,

fmem 42055 %M,M- m.

ttorneg ROOF STRUCTURES Harry F. Ross, North Hollywood, Calif.

Application March 29, 1950, Serial No. 150,773

7 Claims. (Cl. 108-1) This invention relates to roof structures. A

The object of my invention is to provide a roof structure in which the upper roof surfaces slope downwardly to drain the roof to both the sides of the building and to one or both ends of the building, without the necessity of building in saddles to a parapet wall, or other means for that purpose, such as varying the lengths of the supporting columns.

Another object of my invention is to provide a structure in which the upper roof surfaces slope downwardly to drain the roof to both the sides of the building and to one or both ends of the building, without the necessity of building in saddles to a parapet wall, or other means for that purpose, such as varying the lengths of the supporting columns, and at the same time maintain a level ceiling surface for receiving a plaster coat or other material.

Another object of my invention is to provide a roof structure in which drainage is provided to both sides of the building and to one or both ends of the building by the use of spaced tapered structural members, the ends of which vary in depth.

Another object of my invention is to provide a roof structure in which drainage is provided to both sides of the building and to one or both ends of the building by the use of spaced tapered structural members, .the ends of which vary in depth, and at the same time maintain a level ceiling surface for receiving a plaster coat or other material.

Another object of my invention is to provide a low cost roof structure by lowering the height of the parapet wall by reducing the stresses involved in walls by virtue of the less wind resistance than that which higher roof and parapet wall structure would cause, by eliminating the double sheathing required at cant strips, by providing a low pitch roof equivalent to a flat roof for sheathing, by eliminating attic separations for fire purposes, and by providing, with all of the low pitch, sufi'icient attic area to permit access for utility repairs, maintenance, etc.

My invention has many other objects, advantages, and features, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall L outline certain forms of my invention, which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective of a roof structure embodying the invention, partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a perspective in section of a portion of the Wall of the roof structure taken generally on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective showing the structural members used in the roof structure shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of one of the structural members shown in Figs. l-3 before it is incorporated in the roof, partly in section;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a roof structure embodying a modification of my invention;

States Patent 0 "ice Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective showing the structural members used in the roof structure shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 1-4 of the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a roof structure embodying my invention. The roof structure 10 comprises structural members-11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, the upper 16 and lower 17 surfaces of which taper downwardly from the center to each end of the structural members.

In order to provide a roof structure which will drain toward both sides 18 and both ends 19 of the roof structure, the ends 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 of the structural members 11, 12, 13, 14 and respectively, vary in depth with respect to the depth of the ends of the adjacent structural members.

As shown in Fig. 3, the structural members 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 have their greatest depth at their centers. The depth of the ends 23 of the structural member 13 is greater than the depth of the ends 22, 24 of the structural members 12, 14 respectively, and the depth of the ends 22, 24 of the structural members 12, 14 respectively, is greater than the depth of the ends 21, 25 of the structural members 11, 15 respectively. In other words, the ends 23 of the center structural member 13 are greater in depth than the ends of any of the structural members 11, 12, 14 and 15, and the depth of the ends of the successive structural members outwardly on either side of the center structural member 13 are of progressively decreasing depth.

The structural members 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are preferably, but not necessarily, of the same depth at their centers. The ends 23 of the structural member 13 are preferably, but not necessarily of the same depth. The same is true with regard to the respective ends of each of the other structural members 11, 12, 14 and 15.

A welded structural member, per se, as shown in Fig. 4, is shown, described, and claimed in my co-pending application entitled Welded Structural Members filed on even date herewith. Briefly the welded structural member 12 may be constructed as follows: The top edge andbottom edge 31 of a web plate 32 are flame-cut or sheared on a taper downwardly from the center 33 to both ends of the web plate. The taper of the top edge 30 is predetermined and varies depending upon the pitch desired in the roof, and the location of the member 12 in the roof structure. The taper of the bottom edge 31 is predetermined and varies depending upon the deflection of .the member 12 under load in order to provide a level ceiling surface. The amount of taper in the bottom edge 31. is indicated by the numeral 34 in Fig. 4.

I Top plate 35 and bottom plate 36 are then welded to the'top edge 30 and bottom edge 31 respectively, of the web plate 32, preferably by the electric arc process. End plates 37, 38 are then welded to the respective ends of the web plate 32 and to the top and bottom flange plates I: ings in which the walls are constructed of woodcolumns,

" steel columns, masonry, concrete, or other material.

the example shown in Figs. 1-4, the walls 45 of the.

- building are constructed of brick. The ends 21, 22, 23,

24 and 25 of the structural members 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 respectively, .are recessed in the brick wall 45.

The roof surface may be completed in any conventional U manner. In the instance shown in Figs. 1-4, the roof surface 46 which is supported by the structural members 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 comprises beam plates 47, rafters 48, sheathing 49 and composition roofing 50.

The ceiling surface may be completed in any conventional manner. In the instance shown in Figs. 14, the ceiling joists 51 are supported by the structural members 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, to which ceiling joists are secured ceiling surfaces 52, which ceiling surfaces are level.

In the modification of my invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the roof structure 60 comprises a plurality of welded structural members 61, 62, 63, 64, 65', 66 and 67, the upper and lower surfaces of which taper downwardly from the center to each end of the structural members.

In order to provide a roof structure which will drain toward both sides 68 and from one end 69 to the other end of the roof structure, the ends 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77 of the structural members 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67, respectively, vary in depth.

As shown in Fig. 6, the structural members 61, 62, 63,

64, 65, 66 and 67 have their greatest depth at their centers. The ends 71 of the structural member 61 adjacent the end 69 of the roof structure are greater in depth than the ends 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77 of the other structural members, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67, respectively, and the depth of the ends 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77 of the successive structural members 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67 respectively, distant from the structural member 61, are of progressively decreasing depth.

The structural members 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67 are preferably, but not necessarily, of the same depth at their centers. The ends 71 of the structural member 61 are preferably, but not necessarily, of the same depth. The same is true with regard to the respective ends of each of the other structural members 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77.

The welded structural members 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67 may be constructed in the same manner in which the structural member 12 is constructed. While the roof construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 shows the use of seven structural members, roof structures may be constructed with any desired number of structural members, depending upon the length of the building, the width of the building and the desired load carrying capacity of the roof structure. The upper roof surface and the ceiling surface may be completed in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or in any other conventional manner.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the uses and advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. While F I have described the forms of my invention which I now consider to be the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that the forms shown are merely illustrative and that the invention is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A roof structure comprising a plurality of spaced welded structural members, said welded structural members having their maximum vertical thickness at their mid-portions, and said members being tapered in vertical thickness from their centers to their ends with the upper surface of each structural member sloping downwardly from its mid-portion toward each end thereof, ceiling means constituting a substantially level ceiling surface supported by said welded structural metribersyroof members constituting a roof surface supported by and conforming generally to the contour of the upper surfaces of said welded structural members and spanning .the spaces between said Welded structural members, the ends of said welded structural members being of progressively decreasing depth distant from a welded structural member positioned intermediate the ends of the roof structure, whereby drainage is efiected to both side edges and to both end edges of said roof surface, and means supporting the ends of said structural members.

2. A roof structure comprising a plurality of spaced welded structural members, said welded structural members being tapered in vertical thickness from their centers to their ends, ceiling means constituting a substantially level ceiling surface supported by said welded structural members, roof members constituting a roof surface supported by said welded structural members and spanning the spaces between said welded structural members, said welded structural members being of substantially uniform depth at their centers, the ends of a welded structural member positioned intermediate the ends of the roof structure being of greater depth than the ends of the other welded structural members, and the ends of said other welded structural members being of progressively decreasing depth distant from said first mentioned intermediate welded structural member whereby drainage is effected to both side edges and to both end edges of said roof surface, and means supporting the ends of said structural members.

3. A roof structure comprising a plurality of spaced welded structural members, said welded structural members being tapered on their top surfaces downwardly from their centers to their ends, said structural members having their maximum vertical thickness at their mid-portions with such maximum vertical thicknesses being substantially equal, ceiling means constituting a substantially level ceiling surface supported by said welded structural members, roof members constituting a roof surface sup ported by said welded structural members and spanning the spaces between said welded structural members, the ends of said welded structural members being of progressively decreasing depth distant from a welded structural member positioned adjacent to one end edge of said roof structure, whereby drainage is effected to both side edges and to the opposite end edge of said roof surface, and means supporting the ends of said structural members.

4. A roof structure comprising a plurality of spaced welded structural members, said welded structural members being tapered in vertical thickness from their centers to their ends, ceiling means constituting a substantially level ceiling surface supported by said welded structural members, roof members constituting a roof surface supported by said welded structural members and spanning the spaces between said welded structural members, said welded structural members being of substantially uniform depth at their centers, the ends of a welded structural member positioned adjacent to one of the end edges of said roof structure being of greater depth than the ends of the other welded structural members, and the ends of the other welded structural members being of progressively decreasing depth distant from said first mentioned welded .structural member whereby drainage is effected to both side edges and to one end edge of said roof surface, and means supporting the ends of said structural members.

5. In a low silhouette roof structure, a plurality of parallel, spaced, roof-supporting structural members, each of said members having its maximum depth at its midportion with the maximum depths of all members being substantially equal and each of said members being of progressively decreasing depth toward its ends with the upper edge of each structural member sloping downwardly from its mid-portion toward each end thereof, the depth of the ends of successive structural members decreasing from member to member from one portion of the roof structure to another portion thereof, and means supporting each end of each of said structural members.

6. Aroof structure as defined in claim 5 in which said roof-supporting structural members are girders of I-shape in crosssection.

7. .A low silhouette roof structure comprising a plurality of parallel, spaced, generally horizontal roof supporting girders of I-shape in cross-section and extending between the side edges of the roof structures, said girders having substantially equal maximum depths at their mid-portions and being of progressively decreasing depth toward their ends with the upper surface of each girder sloping downwardly from its mid-portion toward each end thereof, the depths of the ends of successive girders decreasing from girder to girder from an intermediate portion of the roof structure to each end edge thereof, a roofing surface substantially conforming to the contour of the upper surfaces of said girders whereby drainage is provided toward each side edge and toward each end of the roof structure, and means supporting the ends of said girders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,261,125 Havens Apr. 2, 1918 2,201,504 Ruppel May 21, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 814,505 France June 24, 1937 538,141 Great Britain July 22, 1941 OTHER REFERENCES Aircraft Factory in France Has Concrete Arch Roof, from Civil Engineering of June 1944, vol. 14, No. 6, pages 240, 241 and 242. 

